October is Black History Month. An important celebration of black history, sharing information about the experiences of black people and concentrating on the many positive contributions of black people within British society.

This years theme is Proud to be, and aims to highlight black pride, inviting black people of all ages to share what they are proud of.

Proud to be black, proud to be brown, proud to be black & LGBTQ+, proud to be me.

Events and celebrations for BHM2021 are being held all over East Sussex and we’re here to bring you a roundup of what’s happening, so ead on for more!

Black History Month at the Libraries

Hastings and Eastbourne libraries are bringing you writing workshops and an author Q&A session led by Writing Our Legacy. Established in 2012, Writing Our Legacy are an organisation who aim to raise awareness of the contributions of black writers born, living or connected to Sussex. They showcase emerging and established writers and provide professional development and networking opportunities.

One hour writing workshops:

Wednesday 20 October @ Eastbourne Library

Saturday 30 October @ Hastings Library

There will also be a Q&A with Colin Grant, author of Homecoming: Voices of the Windrush Generation, at Hastings library. Check back for more details later in the month.

Libraries have also a curated list of books celebrating Black writers available in branch and on the Libby app.

Find out more about the East Sussex Library Service and Black History Month.

Black History Month in Sussex Health and Care Partnership

Sussex Health and Care Partnership are celebrating Black History month by planning a series of events, articles and a collection of stories from black voices. You can  browse a collection of handpicked stories about BAME people who have changed the world of medicine. They will be adding to this collection regularly so be sure to check back for more as the month progresses.

Do you know someone who has made a difference across the Sussex health and care sector and beyond? Have they challenged racism, inequality and injustice in your area? To celebrate their achievements, you can put them forward for the Proud to Be Gratitude Awards. To make your nomination, please complete the form on the SHCP website. You will need to describe how and why the nominee should be recognised for their efforts.

Nominations close 8 October and the winners will be announced in the week commencing 18 October 2021.

SHCP have also been nominated for two NHS race equality awards this year. These awards recognise initiatives that tackle ethnic health inequalities and promote race equality and inclusion. The shortlisting represents progress made across the health and care system in Sussex, and the collective effort from teams to improve services.

For full details of everything going on at SHCP you can visit the Sussex Health an Care Partnership website.

Other events around the county

There are also a range of other events around the county as listed on the Black History Month website including concerts in Bexhill and Hastings. Whether you fancy an evening of reggae, or Afrobeat is more your style, check their listings for events in October and beyond.

 

More information about Black History Month and events can be found online at https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/